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Truss keeps up attack on PM over Slipper

The opposition has spoken of Peter Slipper's right to the presumption of innocence while insisting he should never have been elevated to the speaker's role.

Acting federal Opposition Leader Warren Truss says it's up to the courts to judge the conduct of the former speaker and former Liberal National Party (LNP) member.

Mr Slipper is accused of breaching MPs' car travel rules, and will be formally charged when he faces a Canberra court next month.

While noting Mr Slipper's right to the presumption of innocence, Mr Truss was happy to criticise the prime minister for picking him to become speaker.

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"It does bring into question again the prime minister's judgment about whether this was a suitable man to be appointed to the speakership," he told reporters in Brisbane on Wednesday.

"These sort of allegations have been in the Sunshine Coast papers and indeed later in the national media for a long long time."

Mr Truss, who is standing in for Tony Abbott while he joins his local fire brigade during NSW's bushfire crisis, brushed aside suggestions Mr Slipper's rival Mal Brough was facing internal party criticism.

Mr Brough has been endorsed by the LNP to stand in Mr Slipper's Sunshine Coast seat of Fisher at the next federal election.

He has kept a low profile since he was accused by a judge of working with former Slipper staffer James Ashby to bring down the former speaker.

Mr Truss said he wasn't aware of any internal criticism of Mr Brough and denied he was hiding from the media.

"Mal Brough is not the person who would normally be considered to be shy when it comes to appearing before the media but he's got important work to do," Mr Truss said.

"He needs to win the support of local people in his electorate.

"Winning elections is about door to door campaigning, it's about meeting local people, rather than being involved in whatever national issues there may be on the day."